Image handling D70 advice please?

Hi,
Having had lots of good advice on this group re my first dSLR, I am now a
proud owner of a Nikon D70.
It came with the 18-70 lens and I'm awaiting delivery of the 105 macro one.

What I would like to know please is what people on here think is the best
way to download/process images from the camera to computer.

During the summer I will be taking several hundreds,(perhaps thousands) of
pictures of archaeological artefacts/site-shots/landscapes, and will need to
catalogue them accurately.

I will need a high quality 'master' image of all, and therefore presumably I
need to use the RAW setting, RAW BASIC, I don't think, would be of any
advantage. I have the software which shipped with the camera, but also
Photoshop7, which I am obviously much more familiar with. Do I need the
camera software at all - or can I use PS only? With my old digital camera I
saved all my master images in Tiff, should I still do that?

File size is not really an issue as I will have ready access to laptops
on-site, but I would really appreciate advice on how to carry out the above
process as smoothly/efficiently as possible please - Thanks to all who can
help.

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For me: I always make sure every new batch has a unique name and date/After
downloading/Separate folders on a backup drive is made. then the pictures in
their un-touched form are saved...Last/3 times a year they a burnt on DVD...

--
_________________-
BOCH
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A+TECH
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"stephent" <> wrote in message
news:2055e.12744$...
> Hi,
> Having had lots of good advice on this group re my first dSLR, I am now a
> proud owner of a Nikon D70.
> It came with the 18-70 lens and I'm awaiting delivery of the 105 macro
> one.
>
> What I would like to know please is what people on here think is the best
> way to download/process images from the camera to computer.
>
> During the summer I will be taking several hundreds,(perhaps thousands) of
> pictures of archaeological artefacts/site-shots/landscapes, and will need
> to catalogue them accurately.
>
> I will need a high quality 'master' image of all, and therefore presumably
> I need to use the RAW setting, RAW BASIC, I don't think, would be of any
> advantage. I have the software which shipped with the camera, but also
> Photoshop7, which I am obviously much more familiar with. Do I need the
> camera software at all - or can I use PS only? With my old digital camera
> I saved all my master images in Tiff, should I still do that?
>
> File size is not really an issue as I will have ready access to laptops
> on-site, but I would really appreciate advice on how to carry out the
> above process as smoothly/efficiently as possible please - Thanks to all
> who can help.
>
> Regards,
> Steve.
>
>
>
> --
> Regards,
> Steve Thomas
>

stephent wrote:
> Hi,
> Having had lots of good advice on this group re my first dSLR, I am
> now a proud owner of a Nikon D70.
> It came with the 18-70 lens and I'm awaiting delivery of the 105
> macro one.
>
> What I would like to know please is what people on here think is the
> best way to download/process images from the camera to computer.
>
> During the summer I will be taking several hundreds,(perhaps
> thousands) of pictures of archaeological
> artefacts/site-shots/landscapes, and will need to catalogue them
> accurately.
>
> I will need a high quality 'master' image of all, and therefore
> presumably I need to use the RAW setting, RAW BASIC, I don't think,
> would be of any advantage. I have the software which shipped with the
> camera, but also Photoshop7, which I am obviously much more familiar
> with. Do I need the camera software at all - or can I use PS only?
> With my old digital camera I saved all my master images in Tiff,
> should I still do that?
>
> File size is not really an issue as I will have ready access to
> laptops on-site, but I would really appreciate advice on how to carry
> out the above process as smoothly/efficiently as possible please -
> Thanks to all who can help.
>
> Regards,
> Steve.

On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 07:08:46 GMT, in rec.photo.digital "stephent"
<> wrote:
>Hi,
>Having had lots of good advice on this group re my first dSLR, I am now a
>proud owner of a Nikon D70.
>It came with the 18-70 lens and I'm awaiting delivery of the 105 macro one.
>
>What I would like to know please is what people on here think is the best
>way to download/process images from the camera to computer.
>
>During the summer I will be taking several hundreds,(perhaps thousands) of
>pictures of archaeological artefacts/site-shots/landscapes, and will need to
>catalogue them accurately.
>
>I will need a high quality 'master' image of all, and therefore presumably I
>need to use the RAW setting, RAW BASIC, I don't think, would be of any
>advantage. I have the software which shipped with the camera, but also
>Photoshop7, which I am obviously much more familiar with. Do I need the
>camera software at all - or can I use PS only? With my old digital camera I
>saved all my master images in Tiff, should I still do that?
>
>File size is not really an issue as I will have ready access to laptops
>on-site, but I would really appreciate advice on how to carry out the above
>process as smoothly/efficiently as possible please - Thanks to all who can
>help.

The supplied software will install a plugin that gives you limited control
over the raw conversion process in PS7. One question, do you intend to
process each image by hand or do you need the ability to batch convert?
This may leave Nikon Capture (you should have a 30 day demo) as your only
solution, as I am unaware of any other converter that allows batch
conversion. If doing this you could then just use Capture to batch convert
and just shoot raw as well. There are other converters on the market, ACR
for PSCS, Capture One, etc. A new entry to the field, Raw Shooter
Essentials has a free demo (not time limited) athttp://www.pixmantec.com/products/rawshooter_essentials.html
----------
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 ()
See images taken with my CP-990/5700 & D70 athttp://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html

I don't really mind having to process each image individually. I will
probably have between 20 to 30 images a day, of which 6 - 10 will need to be
kept as Tiff's for possible publication, with the others just high quality
jpegs, for more general work/web, so batching is not essential.

How would the cost of upgrade from PS7 to CS compare with a licence for the
Nikon Capture software compare please?

On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 11:07:32 GMT, "stephent" <>
wrote:
>I don't really mind having to process each image individually. I will
>probably have between 20 to 30 images a day, of which 6 - 10 will need to be
>kept as Tiff's for possible publication, with the others just high quality
>jpegs, for more general work/web, so batching is not essential.

30 Images a day, and you'll process them on a daily basis. There is no
reason not to shoot RAW+BASIC, rather than just RAW because space
consideration isn't going to be a problem.

You need to think hard about your cataloging system before you start
shooting (filenaming convention). My preference is in *addition* to
naming the directory based on the roll-number_month_year_description,
I also want the individual files renamed as roll-number_frame-number,
so that a file can be taken out of the directory structure (emailed,
printed, whatever) and still be quickly identified based on it's
filename alone.

In my case a roll-number is a full-ish 1Gb CF card or a discrete
project, which is freshly formatted before use, and the camera starts
at shot DSC_0001 each time. After DL'ing a card, I do:

RENAME DSC_*.* 045_*.* (Example for roll 45)

this gives me filenames like 045_0023.NEF

In a directory called:

Set045_Apr_2005_Key_West_Sunset

Your system will need to be different, maybe using week numbers, day
numbers or something that helps the cataloging a bit better. You will
also want to look into an image database that can use EXIF tags or
similar to record keywords against each image. This will allow fast
extraction of a related set of images.
>How would the cost of upgrade from PS7 to CS compare with a licence for the
>Nikon Capture software compare please?

Dunno, I DL'd the trial for Nikon Capture (to play with remote
control) and found the RAW importer to be really clunky and slow
compared to the Photoshop one.

I shoot RAW then process and convert in Photoshop CS....I use Nikon View
to convert them to jpg's for clients to review. It can do an entire
photo at a time, and if I am in the studio I can be doing it while I
shoot.....I may start shooting RAW+jpg to eliminate the conversion
process....

On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 11:07:32 GMT, in rec.photo.digital "stephent"
<> wrote:
>I don't really mind having to process each image individually. I will
>probably have between 20 to 30 images a day, of which 6 - 10 will need to be
>kept as Tiff's for possible publication, with the others just high quality
>jpegs, for more general work/web, so batching is not essential.
>
>How would the cost of upgrade from PS7 to CS compare with a licence for the
>Nikon Capture software compare please?

I have used Irfanview to batch convert Canon dRebel RAW files to TIFF -
it worked fine, limited only by the power of the system I did it on. Of
course, this was only for some snapshots, not art shots or anything. I
did a bit of adjusting after, but it was a very relaxing workflow,
compared to some I've heard described. For documentation pics, like the
OP is doing, the actual quality of the color, noise and so forth isn't
as important as the accuracy of the image, so batch conversion should
be OK, IMHO.

I wouldn't recommend storing the pics in Nikon RAW format alone, BTW.
You'll want a format that'll stand the test of time a bit better, ie,
one that won't be hopelessly out of date in 10 -20 years. Who knows
what'll be available to view those .NEF pics then? I'd recommend
converting to something very common like TIFF or high quality JPEG for
archiving - there should be lots of viewers available even in 50 years.

Don't forget, you can download an XP thumbnail viewer off the Nikon site.
This will allow you to see your NEF files in XP folders regardless of what
software you choose to work it.

I use an old copy of Photoshop LE to massage jpeg files, and Nikon View to
convert them. I also have Capture, which will allow you to upload custom
curves to your camera, and it's actually a fairly powerful program, but it
ain't Photoshop.

"stephent" <> wrote in message
news:2055e.12744$...
> Hi,
> Having had lots of good advice on this group re my first dSLR, I am now a
> proud owner of a Nikon D70.
> It came with the 18-70 lens and I'm awaiting delivery of the 105 macro
> one.
>
> What I would like to know please is what people on here think is the best
> way to download/process images from the camera to computer.
>
> During the summer I will be taking several hundreds,(perhaps thousands) of
> pictures of archaeological artefacts/site-shots/landscapes, and will need
> to catalogue them accurately.
>
> I will need a high quality 'master' image of all, and therefore presumably
> I need to use the RAW setting, RAW BASIC, I don't think, would be of any
> advantage. I have the software which shipped with the camera, but also
> Photoshop7, which I am obviously much more familiar with. Do I need the
> camera software at all - or can I use PS only? With my old digital camera
> I saved all my master images in Tiff, should I still do that?
>
> File size is not really an issue as I will have ready access to laptops
> on-site, but I would really appreciate advice on how to carry out the
> above process as smoothly/efficiently as possible please - Thanks to all
> who can help.
>
> Regards,
> Steve.
>
>
>
> --
> Regards,
> Steve Thomas
>

ecm <> wrote:
>I wouldn't recommend storing the pics in Nikon RAW format alone, BTW.
>You'll want a format that'll stand the test of time a bit better, ie,
>one that won't be hopelessly out of date in 10 -20 years. Who knows
>what'll be available to view those .NEF pics then? I'd recommend
>converting to something very common like TIFF or high quality JPEG for
>archiving - there should be lots of viewers available even in 50 years.

A high-quality JPG would be worth having, but it does require you to
go through and adjust for the best pic you can squeeze out of it.
It's a fair assumption that photoshop's own format will be usable in
20 years time too [given the immense usership of the programme],
and if you're using that to convert you'll have it ready for saving
in their own format already. I don't know if you stand to lose
anything by PSP->TIFF?

CS2 is $149 from Photoshop 7 (advetised as any ver of Photoshop). Go
the RAW route. Just be careful and name (info & date) your folders.
Have a couple of 1GB high speed cards (Lexar 80X are good) and use a
USB 2 reader. Always have your pics on 2 separate media.

>I wouldn't recommend storing the pics in Nikon RAW format alone, BTW.
>You'll want a format that'll stand the test of time a bit better, ie,
>one that won't be hopelessly out of date in 10 -20 years.

As if in 20 years you could read whatever media used to store the files,
come on. IF your files are something to care about you need to verify them
yearly and move then to whatever new media becomes the standard. Similar
with formats, imo.
----------
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 ()
See images taken with my CP-990/5700 & D70 athttp://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html

In article <2055e.12744$>,
"stephent" <> wrote:
> Hi,
> Having had lots of good advice on this group re my first dSLR, I am now a
> proud owner of a Nikon D70.
> It came with the 18-70 lens and I'm awaiting delivery of the 105 macro one.
>
> What I would like to know please is what people on here think is the best
> way to download/process images from the camera to computer.
>
> During the summer I will be taking several hundreds,(perhaps thousands) of
> pictures of archaeological artefacts/site-shots/landscapes, and will need to
> catalogue them accurately.

Buy a firewire card reader for your computer. If you don't have a
firewire port on your computer, you can add one for a nominal cost
by buying a firewire PCI card.

"Shawn Hearn" <> wrote in message
news:...
> In article <2055e.12744$>,
> "stephent" <> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> Having had lots of good advice on this group re my first dSLR, I am now a
>> proud owner of a Nikon D70.
>> It came with the 18-70 lens and I'm awaiting delivery of the 105 macro
>> one.
>>
>> What I would like to know please is what people on here think is the best
>> way to download/process images from the camera to computer.
>>
>> During the summer I will be taking several hundreds,(perhaps thousands)
>> of
>> pictures of archaeological artefacts/site-shots/landscapes, and will need
>> to
>> catalogue them accurately.
>
> Buy a firewire card reader for your computer. If you don't have a
> firewire port on your computer, you can add one for a nominal cost
> by buying a firewire PCI card.

Or if you have USB2 on your machine, buy a USB2 card reader. For this
purpose, it is just as fast and no need for the card.

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